SVID to rely more on staff for canal improvements

From our standpoint we're just as busy as before, we're doing more work in-house," SVID Manager Jim Trull says of work this winter on the canal system.

The SVID board and Sunnyside Division Board of Control met last week and approved budgets and plans for the coming year.

Trull notes there will be fewer grant funds available for work on the Sunnyside Canal Improvement Project (SCIP). The project focuses on water conservation measures, such as automated check structures that are more precise in delivering and storing water.

For example, in 2012 SVID's budget called for receiving $510,00 for SCIP while in 2013 the anticipated grant funding level will drop to $188,000.

"The amount of funding we have to work with is less, so we'll be pretty busy this winter doing more work in-house," Trull said.

During last week's board meetings, directors also approved a nearly 5 percent increase in annual assessment rates for water customers in the irrigation district.

There are two different levy rates for properties in the district, Trull notes, based on water right history. Both rates will increase by $4 in 2013, to $88 and $97 for an acre.

"It's just the overall increase in the cost of equipment and supplies, labor and fuel," Trull says.